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Md. Shabuddin all set to be released from jail tomorrow

Shahabuddin has been languishing in jail for last 11 years

He was granted bail in eyewitness murder case by the Patna HC

Dreaded gangster turned politician Md. Shahabuddin is all set to be released from jail on Saturday after he was granted bail by the Patna High Court on Wednesday. Shahabuddin who has been languishing in Siwan jail for last 11 years was granted bail in an eyewitness murder case on Wednesday by the Patna High Court.

Rajiv Roshan, an eyewitness in the acid attack case of Siwan was gunned down allegedly by Shahabuddin's sharp shooters in 2011. Roshan was eyewitness in the murder of his two brothers Satish Raj and Girish Raj who were sons of a noted businessman Chandrakeshwar Prasad. Satish and Girish were kidnapped and murdered on August 16, 2004 in Siwan, the turf of the former RJD MP Shahabuddin. However, it was the brutal manner in which both brothers were killed that shocked everyone. Both, brother were drenched in acid before being killed allegedly on Shahabuddin's direction.

Rajiv who was the sole witness in the killing of his two brothers was to appear before the court three days later from when he was killed. Shahabudin was sentenced to life imprisonment in the killing of the two brothers by a special court in December, 2015. He, however, got bail in March 2016 in this case.

"We are very scared now that Shahabuddin is returning. There is threat that he may also eliminate me and my wife," said Chandrakeshwar Prasad, father of the three brothers.

39 CASES AGAINST SHAHABUDDIN

Known as terror of Siwan, Shahabuddin has almost 39 cases against his name relating to murders and kidnapping. In 38 cases, either he has been acquitted in many of them or has been granted bail. The murder case of Rajiv Roshan was the 39th case which held him inside the jail. After the High Court granted bail, it paved way for his release from the jail.

Shahabuddin who was recently inducted into the national executive of the RJD is considered very close to Lalu Prasad. Sources say, Lalu played a key role in Shahabuddin's ouster from jail as the Bihar government did not pursue the case of eyewitness Rajiv Roshan's murder seriously.

Shahabuddin's role also came under scanner in the killing of a Rajdev Ranjan, bureau chief of a Hindi daily in May this year. Ranjan was killed after he was gunned down allegedly by Shahabuddin's sharp shooters. Shahabuddin was lodged in Siwan jail till then was immediately shifted to Bhagalpur jail in order to prevent him from influencing the probe.

It was Bihar CM Nitish Kumar who soon after coming to power in November 2005 cracked down on Shahabuddin and pushed him inside the jail.

Shahabuddin has been listed as "A" type history sheeter by Bihar government which means that a criminal who is beyond reforms.